award Archives

Winsage

January 13, 2026

CES 2026: Showcasing new Windows 11 PC innovations across the ecosystem

CES showcased significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into the Windows ecosystem, with various companies unveiling new products. Acer introduced the Copilot+ PCs, including the Swift 16 AI laptop with a haptic touchpad and Predator Helios Neo 16S AI gaming laptop. ASUS launched the Zenbook DUO, featuring dual OLED touchscreens, and the ROG Zephyrus Duo, a dual-screen gaming laptop. Dell refreshed its XPS brand with new laptops and monitors, while HP presented the EliteBook X G2 Series and the EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC. Lenovo revealed several new Copilot+ PCs, and Samsung introduced the Galaxy Book6 series. AMD and Intel announced new processor lines, with AMD's Ryzen AI 400 Mobile Series and Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon X2 Plus for enhanced AI experiences in PCs.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Rhea Seehorn’s ’90s PC game acting debut has gone viral

Rhea Seehorn began her acting career by portraying a sorceress in the 1997 Magic: The Gathering PC game. She currently stars as Carol in the series Pluribus, created by Vince Gilligan, which is set in a post-alien invasion world. Seehorn's performance in Pluribus has earned her the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actress. Clips from her early work in Magic: The Gathering have gone viral on social media, and the complete tutorial is available on YouTube. Seehorn humorously recalled the low-budget production, where she wore tube socks with electrical tape instead of proper footwear. After Magic: The Gathering, she appeared in Homicide: Life On The Streets and had a recurring role in I’m With Her. Her breakout role as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul established her reputation in the industry.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Valve announced the 2025 Steam Awards winners (and shockingly Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 didn’t win everything)

Valve announced the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards, highlighting user preferences on the gaming platform. Hollow Knight: Silksong was the only title to win multiple awards, while Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Best Soundtrack Award. The Steam Awards, held annually since 2016, are determined by user votes, with this year's selections showcasing a diverse range of titles, including smaller games like The Midnight Walk and RV There Yet?.

Winsage

January 6, 2026

HP put a mini PC inside a keyboard, and I love it — a Windows-based approach to the Raspberry Pi 500 with self-repairable parts

HP introduced the EliteBoard G1a at CES 2026, a keyboard that integrates a mini PC powered by AMD's Ryzen AI 300 PRO mobile processors, featuring a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of delivering up to 50 TOPS. It is designed to cater to hybrid workers using external monitors with laptops closed. The internal components include upgradeable DDR5 SODIMM RAM and M.2 NVMe solid-state drives. Key specifications include: - OS: Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro - CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 PRO, AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 PRO - GPU: Up to AMD Radeon 860M integrated - RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM - Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2, 512GB encrypted PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2, 32GB eMMC v5.0 (Ryzen AI 7 350 only) - Ports: 1x USB4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (detached cable); 1x tethered USB4, 1x USB4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (attached cable) - Connectivity: MediaTek RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3, MediaTek MT7925 Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 6.0 - Audio: Stereo speakers, Stereo microphones - Power: Configurable 32Whr battery (3.5+ hours), 65W USB-C GaN power adapter - Dimensions: 358mm x 118mm x 17mm, weight 1.49 - 1.69 lbs The design includes a spill-resistant keyboard that can be replaced in about ten minutes and a removable bottom panel for easy access to internal components. Both models support up to four 4K monitors at 60Hz and offer around 3.5 hours of usage on a full charge. The EliteBoard G1a has received a CES Innovation Award.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Hollow Knight Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year with a staggering 43 million votes from PC players

Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards, receiving 43.8 million votes. It also won the award for Best Game You Suck At. The game was released on September 4, 2025, and experienced significant traffic that caused outages on platforms like Steam and Xbox. It did not win the Game Awards' GOTY, which went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Players can expect additional content with the upcoming Sea of Sorrow expansion. Other notable awards included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Best Soundtrack, Hades 2 as Best Game on Steam Deck, Silent Hill F for Outstanding Visual Style, and The Midnight Walk as VR Game of the Year. Team Cherry is also developing a new release for the Nintendo Switch 2. Baldur’s Gate 3 received the Labor of Love award.

AppWizard

January 4, 2026

PC players hand Silksong their Game of the Year gong over Expedition 33 as the 2025 Steam Awards winners are announced

Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year title at the 2025 Steam Awards, determined by user votes. It also received the 'Best Game You Suck At' award, making it the only title to secure two wins that year. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Best Soundtrack. Baldur's Gate 3 received the 'Labor of Love' award, while Hades 2 was named 'Best Game on Steam Deck.' Dispatch won 'Outstanding Story-Rich Game,' Silent Hill f received 'Outstanding Visual Style,' The Midnight Walk was named 'VR Game of the Year,' and RV There Yet won the 'Sit Back and Relax' award. Arc Raiders was recognized for 'Most Innovative Gameplay.' Hollow Knight Silksong reached the 'platinum' tier of bestsellers during the Steam Winter Sale.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

The Worst Optimized PC Games of 2025

In 2025, several high-profile games have been criticized for poor optimization and disappointing performance. The most poorly optimized titles include: - Rise of the Ronin: The PC version struggles to maintain satisfactory performance at ultra settings, with graphics not meeting system requirements. - Keeper: Built on Unreal Engine 5, it fails to achieve 60 FPS in native 4K at maximum settings, even with a GeForce RTX 5090. - The Outer Worlds 2: Performance drops significantly with ray tracing enabled and requires a CPU with high IPC, only efficiently utilizing four threads. - Borderlands 4: Launched with subpar optimization, performance issues persist despite updates. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Required multiple patches to achieve acceptable frame rates and stability. - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2: Notable for severe stuttering, one of the worst in recent releases. - Oblivion Remastered: Criticized for poor performance and appears abandoned without necessary fixes.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

20 Best PC Games of 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, the PC gaming landscape has flourished with a diverse array of titles. Notable games include: 1. INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory Road - A football RPG with a vibrant anime aesthetic and extensive replayability. 2. Dispatch - A humorous superhero adventure featuring a charming cast and an engaging narrative. 3. Hades 2 - A roguelike action-RPG sequel known for its captivating story and unique art style. 4. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered - An enhanced version of the original game, offering an unforgettable narrative experience. 5. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter - An action-packed JRPG with compelling characters and intricate combat. 6. Absolum - A roguelike game featuring thrilling combat against the Crimson Order. 7. Clair Obscur Expedition - An award-winning game with a beautifully crafted world and character-driven narratives. 8. Hollow Knight: Silksong - A sequel where players explore an expansive world with fresh combat mechanics. 9. Blue Prince - A puzzle game that challenges players with mental puzzles to secure an inheritance. 10. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - An RPG sequel with a vast map and engaging quests. 11. ARC Raiders - An extraction shooter known for its community-driven experience. 12. Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Set in feudal Japan, featuring unique characters and stunning environments. 13. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth - An enhanced PC version of the classic narrative with improved gameplay mechanics. 14. Monster Hunter Wilds - An RPG with beautifully designed biomes and thrilling hunts. 15. Lumines Arise - A puzzle game that combines simple mechanics with complex gameplay loops. 16. Battlefield 6 - A visually impressive shooter with refined multiplayer mechanics. 17. The Alters - A creative title allowing players to create alternate versions of themselves. 18. The First Berserker: Khazan - A revenge-driven narrative complemented by stylish combat. 19. Bionic Bay - An atmospheric game that rewards creativity and patience. 20. Jurassic World Evolution 3 - A management game featuring dinosaurs and the return of Jeff Goldblum. The winner of the best PC game in 2025 is Clair Obscur: Expedition, praised for its blend of realism and artistic expression, compelling characters, and immersive soundtrack.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Shacknews Best PC Game of 2025

Battlefield 6 has been awarded the Shacknews Award for Best PC Game of 2025. The game requires a minimum of an RTX 2060 or an RX 5600 XT for optimal performance. It supports multiple input methods, with a keyboard providing enhanced precision in gameplay.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

Android Central’s Best of 2025 Awards: The best phones, smartwatches, tablets, apps, and more

The OnePlus 15 was named Best Android Phone, featuring a fast chip, three-day battery life, and a 165Hz display. The Google Pixel 10 Pro won Best Camera with its Gemini-powered photo system. The Nothing's CMF Phone 2 Pro was recognized as the best budget option. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was awarded Best Foldable Device, while the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 was named Best Flip Phone. Samsung was recognized as the most improved brand. The Google Pixel Watch 4 won Best Smartwatch, and the Oura Ring 4 was the top smart ring. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 was the best smart glasses, with the Oakley Meta Vanguard for athletes and the Xreal One Pro as Best XR Glasses. Marvel's Deadpool VR won Best Single-Player VR, and Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked was Best Multiplayer VR Game. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 was the Best Chromebook, and the OnePlus Pad 3 was the best tablet. The Amazon Kindle Scribe was awarded Best E-Reader. Spotify was named Best Music Streaming Service, and Netflix was Best Video Streaming Service. The Gemini app won Best Android App, and Pokémon TCG Pocket was Best Android Game. Spigen was recognized as Best Phone Case Manufacturer, Anker was the top charging brand, Sony WH-1000XM6 won Best Wireless Headphones, and Apple AirPods Pro 3 were the best earbuds.